THE WADERS. 



267 



To the greater part of these islands the Red-necked 

 Phalarope is only a spring or autumn visitor on migra- 

 ted t i n > an( * * n ^ re ^ an< ^ ** kas ccurre( i n iy nce - 



* necked A few still breed in the Scottish isles. Like 

 Phalarope. ^g j ast ^{^ than which it is rather 

 smaller, it has curiously lobed toes, and, like it also, 

 the female is the handsomer bird. The bill is pro- 

 portionately longer and more slender. Eggs, 4, i inch; 

 greenish, with black blotches. 



In spite of the fact of the Woodcock breeding, more than 



ever of late years, in almost every part of these 



>ck * islands, it seems more desirable to regard it 



as a winter visitor, so familiar, to all at any rate who 



have resided on the north-east coast in autumn, are the 

 return "nights." The birds leave again for Scandinavia in 

 early spring, though, as above mentioned, a large number 

 remain to breed. A number nest annually in Hampshire, 



